Bathroom fart fan squirrel cage does not rotate

[MillCreek]

So the Broan bathroom fan, that I replaced about a month ago, has suddenly stopped working.  The fan motor hums and gets warm, but the squirrel cage fan does not rotate.  I can rotate the motor shaft by hand, and the fan spins freely, but the motor drive is not rotating the fan.  Any ideas on the problem and how to fix it? 

[MillCreek]

Oh yes, detcord and bacon grease are possibilities.  Moving on.

Unfortunately, I have already discarded the packaging and receipt from Lowe's after the successful install and use, so I cannot just remove and return the unit.

[Doggy Daddy]

Unfortunately, I have already discarded the packaging and receipt from Lowe's after the successful install and use, so I cannot just remove and return the unit.

Ah!  That I can help you with.  Buy a new one and install it.  Return the old one with the new box and receipt.

Profit.

DD

[dogmush]

So the Broan bathroom fan, that I replaced about a month ago, has suddenly stopped working.  The fan motor hums and gets warm, but the squirrel cage fan does not rotate.  I can rotate the motor shaft by hand, and the fan spins freely, but the motor drive is not rotating the fan.  Any ideas on the problem and how to fix it? 

It's thrashed.  That's indicative of an internal motor failure.  Most likely the winding was bad from the factory leading to a short life.  You could have the motor rewound but it would probably cost close to what a new fan would.

Try taking it in to Lowe's and tell them the whole story. It's defective, worked long enough that you trashed the receipt and box, and you'd like a new one.  They have a pretty liberal return policy if you're going for an exchange.

[Unisaw]

If you bought it with a credit card, Lowes probably has an electronic record of the purchase.  If so, I would just take it back and exchange it.

[vaskidmark]

You have a fan just for farts?

stay safe.

[CNYCacher]

They already know you can buy the same thing and return the defective one in the new box with new receipt, so they will do the following:

If you don't have the box and receipt and you paid cash they will give you two options:
 - Direct exchange for same product
 - Store credit for current price of item

If you used a credit or debit card, you can hand them that card and they will swipe it and that's as good as having the receipt in hand.  At that point you can get cash refund if it was a debit purchase, or credit refunded to the card if it was a credit purchase.

[never_retreat]

Go get a new one, swap out the guts and return it.

[Regolith]

You can get a new motor/fan from Broan directly, if you don't want to bother with replacing everything else.  I had to go that route with the bathroom fan here; the bearings had failed, which kept the fan from turning.

[MillCreek]

I did some Googling and saw a number of the same sort of situations as occurred with my fan.  I sent an email to Broan; I will report back what they say.  It would be great if I did not have to buy a new motor.

[Jim147]

You need a new squirrel.

jim

[Brad Johnson]

If it's only a month old, pull the defective unit and return to the store for a direct replacement.

Brad

[coppertales]

No sweat.  Just light your farts.  That way you help with the heating bill and reduce air pollution.  After all, farts are corrosive so you need to cut down on your emissions in the bathroom.  Less beer and pickled eggs for a start.......chris3

[RocketMan]

You need a new squirrel.

If he just stops farting, there's no need for a fan.

[280plus]

You need a new squirrel.

jim

The squirrel is probably fine. I'll bet the nut they stick in front of its nose is missing.